Bone conducting receiver with electromagnetic vibrator



April 10, 1951 s, N, REGER 2,548,062

BONE CONDUCTING RECEIVER WITH ELECTROMAGNETIC VIBRATOR Filed March 22, 1948 32 le le z:

I9 I l 38 g l5 44 h A J IN V E NTOR SCOTT N. REGER AT TOR N EY S Patented Apr. 10, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BONE CONDUCTING RECEIVER WITH ELECTROMAGNETIC VIBRATOR 21 Claims.

My invention relates to bone conducting receivers for use by persons hard of hearing.

An object of the invention resides in providing a bone conducting receiver capable of transforming electrical impulses produced by audible sounds as well as impulses produced by an electric generator into mechanical vibrations.

A still further object of the invention resides in producing a bone conducting receiver particularly capable of being used for test purposes as for example with an audiometer.

An object of the invention resides in provid-- ing a bone conducting receiver in which the mass of the moving parts is reduced to a minimum.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a receiver in which the output does not materially vary for variations in frequency of the electrical impulses.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a bone conducting receiver in which the frequency response is not affected by variation in pressure on the contact member.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a bone conducting receiver having a contact member adapted to be pressed against a portion of the head of the user and in which the degree of pressure exerted does not aiect the operation of the receiver.

A still further object or the invention resides in providing a receiver having a contact member movable in one direction and an actuating member therefore movable in a direction substantially at right angles to the direction of movement of the contact member.

An object of the invention resides in utilizing an electro-magnet providing a magnetic path and having an armature movable in said path in response to variations in the magnetic ilux in said path and in further providing a reed to which said armature is attached and which is adapted to be vibrated transversely upon movement of the armature.

Another object of the invention resides in anchoring one end of the reed and in guiding the other end of said reed for longitudinal movement but limiting the transverse movement thereof whereby the span of the reed is varied upon vibration thereof.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a contact member guided for movement in a longitudinal direction with respect to said reed.

Another object of the invention resides in attaching said contact member to the free end of the reed and in arranging the contact surface thereof substantially at right angles to the direction of extent of the reed.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is an elevational sectional View of a bone conducting receiver illustrating an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational sectional view taken of line 2 2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. l illustrating a modification of the invention.

Fig. 4 is an elevational sectional view taken of line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

In certain types of bone conducting receivers now in use, the output varies considerably with variation in the frequency of the electrical impulses and the frequency response is also aiected by variation in pressure on the contact member. In other types considerable energy is required to operate the same. The instant invention provides a construction in which the faults of both of such types of lbone conducting receivers are largely overcome.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprise a case IG having a back II, side walls I2, and upper and lower walls I3 and I4. This case is open at the front and it is normally closed by means of a closure I5 which is detachably secured to the case. The case II) and the closure l5 can be constructed of metal or of a molded plastic material.

The entire mechanism within the case I0 is supported from the closure I5 in the following ianner. Disposed within the case I@ and resting on the back II of said case is a supporting plate 24. This plate is attached to the closure I5 by means of two legs I6 which have feet VIl and I8 extending outwardly therefrom. The feet il overlie the plate 24 and are secured thereto by means of screws I9 which extend through said feet and are threaded into the said plate. The feet I8 underlie pads 2i formed on the closures I5 and are attached to said closure by means of screws 22 which extend through the pads 2| and said feet and which have nuts 23 screwed upon the inner ends of the same. Screws 25 extending through the back I I of case I5 and threaded into the plate 2:3 hold the closure I5 and attached parts mounted within the case IU.

The invention utilizes an electro-magnetic device 39 which consists of a permanent magnet This magnet is clamped between two core members 2l and 28 which overlie the same at its ends. Screws 29 extend through these core niembers and are threaded into the plate 2d. A spacer 3i is disposed between the core member 2@ and the plate 2f!- and serves to bring the said core members toward the center or the case. The core members t? and 2S have coils mounted on the same and terminate in, poles Mounted on the plate 2li is a block which supports a vibrating reed 3b. Reed has secured to it an armature 35 which lies in the magnetic path formed by the magnet and the core members 2'! and and in itself forms a core member constituting a part of the magnet circuit through the coils E22. The reed 35 has attached to the free end thereof a mounting 3l which has also attached to it one oi a leaf spring The other end of said leaf spring is secured by means of screws il to a pad formed on the ciosure. By means of this construction the reed 35 is held from transverse movement but aliowed to vibrate due to attraction and repulsion of the armature 36 by means oi the poles 33 of the electromagnetic device 3Q. Attached to the mounting 3'? is a spindle i2 which is guided for longitudinal movement by means oi a bushing i3 mounted in a hollow boss formed on the closure i5. This spindle has secured to the outer end of the same a contact member [z5 which has a contact surface de. The said contact member is in the form of a button and has a shank di' which is spaced from the bore d8 in the boss fili, The surface it is adapted to be placed against a portion of the of the user whereby vibrations of the member are imparted to the bone structure of the The operation of the invention is as follows: When -pressure is applied to the surface iii of the contact member i5 as is the case when the bone conducting receiver is placed in use, such pressure is end-wise againstv the reed 35 and does not affect movement of the reed. As pulsating currents received from a suitable transmitter pass through the coils 32, such currents cause a pulsating flux to flow through the magnetic circuit with which said coils are associated and through the armature 36. This causes the reed to vibrate. Vibration of the reed changes the span of the same and causes the mounting Si and the contact member ii to move in a longitudinal direction and with respect to said reed. Such movement is substantially at right angles to the movement of the armature have found that exerting considerable pressure on the surface 36 by holding the contact member it firmly in contact with the head does not apparently aiect the operation of the device.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a form of the invention which is similar to that illustrated in that Fig. l. Due to the fact that certain of parts are the same, the description of such parts will not be repeated, and the same reference numerals to which the suilix d have been added will be used to designate corresponding parts.

The form 01' the invention shown in Fig. 3 uses a duplicate magnetic device indicated at Seb and a reed 35h operated thereby. The construction of these parts being the same as the corresponding parts of the device shown in 1, the same reference numerals followed by the character b will be used to describe such parts and the description thereof will not be repeated. It will .be noted in this form of invention that both of the reeds 35a and Seb are attached to the block 36a,

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likewise the said reeds are both attached to the mounting 37o. By means of this construction the leaf spring 3@ may be dispensed with. At the same time more power can be derived from the receiver so that greater output may be had from the same.

The advantages or the invention are manifest. My invention requires a minimum amount of power to operate. My improved bone conducting receiver is very erlicient in operation. Pressure exerted upon the contactl member of the invention does affect or vary the normal operation of the same. The invention can be constructed at small expense and is extremely simple. In my invention there are no complicated parts to get out o1" order and the device will continue to operate indenitely without attention.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed wit-hout departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by letters patent is:

1. In a bone conducting receiver having a contact member adapted to engage the users head a vibrating member having movement in a first direction and having movement in a second direction at right angles to said first direction and of a lesser amplitude than the amplitude in said first direction, actuating means imparting movement to said vibrating member in said rst named direction, said contact member being movable in the saine direction as said second named direction and being energized by said vibrating member said contact member when pressure is applied thereto by engagement with the head or" the user .producing no perceptible resistance to the movement of said vibrating member in said iirst named direction.

2. ln a bone conducting receiver having a contact member adapted to engage the users head a vibrating member having movement in a iirst direction and having movement in a second direction at right angles to said first direction and of a lesser amplitude than the amplitude in said rst direction, an armature movable in the same direction as said rst named direction and imparting movement to said vibrating member, said contact member being movable in the same direction as said second named direction and being;- energized by said vibrating member said contact member when pressure is applied thereto by engagement with the head of the user producing no perceptible resistance to the movement of said vibrating member in said rst named direction.

3. A vibrator for use in a bone conducting receiver having a contact member for engagement with the head or the user movable in a certain direction, said vibrator including a vibrating oper- .ating member having movement in a first direction and in a second direction at right angles t0 the rst direction with the amplitude of vibration in the first direction being greater than the amplitude or vibration in the second direction said operating member being placed with the second direction of vibration parallel with the direction of movement of the contact member, actuating means imparting vibratory motion to said operating member in said rst named direction, and motion transmitting means between said operating member and said contact member said contact member when pressure is applied thereto by engagement with the head oi the user producing no perceptible resistance to the movement of said vibrating member in said rst named direction.

4. A magnetic vibrator for use in a bone conducting receiver having a contact member formed with a contact surface for engagement with the head of the user and movable in a direction normal to said contact surface, said vibrator including an electro-magnet, an elongated reed adapted to flex and energized by said electro-magnet, one end of said reed being fixed and the other end of said reed being adapted to have longitudinal movement produced by change in the span of the reed occasioned by flexing thereof and motion transmitting means between said contact member and the last named end of the reed and transmitting longitudinal motion from said reed and to said contact member in a direction substantially normal to the contact surface thereof said contact member when pressure is applied to the same through engagement with the head of the user producing no perceptible resistance to the flexing of the reed. 5. In a bone conducting receiver having a contact member for engagement with the users head and formed with a contact surface a support, an elongated reed having greater longitudinal rigidity than transverse rigidity, attaching means for attaching one end of said reed to said support, said attaching means holding said reed from longitudinal and transverse movement at such end, guide means at the other end of said reed for guiding said reed for longitudinal movement and for restraining lateral movement of the reed, motive means acting on said reed intermediate its ends and adapted to set up transverse vibrations in said reed to cause the second named end of the reed to move longitudinally of the reed toward and from the first named end of the reed, a contact member having a contact surface transverse of the direction of extent of said reed for transmitting force in the direction of extent of the reed, and motion transmitting means between said contact member and the end of the reed and having rigidity in the direction of extent of the reed said contact member when pressure is applied to the same through engagement with the head of the user producing no perceptible resistance to the movement of the reed in a transverse direction.

6. In a bone conducting receiver having a contact member for engagement with the users head and formed with a contact surface a support, an

elongated reed having greater longitudinal rigidity than transverse rigidity, attaching means for attaching one end of said reed to said support, said attaching means holding said reed from 1ongitudinal and transverse movement at such end, guide means at the other end of said reed for guiding said reed for longitudinal movement and for restraining lateral movement of the reed, motive means acting on said reed intermediate its ends and adapted to set up transverse vibrations in said reed to cause the second named end of the reed to move longitudinally of the reed toward and from the first named end of the reed, a contact member having a contact surface and motion transmitting means for transmitting longitudinal motion from the second named end of the reed and to the contact member in a direction transverse to the contact surface of said contact member said contact member when pressure is applied to the same through engagement with the head of the user producing no perceptible resistance to the movement of the reed in a transverse direction.

'7. A vibrator for use in a bone conducting receiver having a contact member for engagement with the head of the user, said vibrator including an electro-magnet, an elongated reed adapted to be moved by said electro-magnet and arranged to flex in accordance with the force exerted by the electro-magnet, the span of said reed changing during flexing and motion transmitting means movable in accordance With the change in span of said reed and operating said contact member said contact member when pressure is applied to the same through engagement with the head of the user producing no perceptible resistance to the flexing of the reed.

8. A vibrator for use in a bone conducting receiver having a contact member for engagement With the head of the user, said vibrator including an electro-magnet, an elongated reed adapted to be moved by said electro-magnet and arranged to flex in accordance with the force exerted by the electro-magnet, the span of said reed changing during iexing, restraining means for restraining longitudinal movement of the reed at one end thereof, said contact member being connected to the reed at its other end and actuated by the changes in the span of the reed said contact member when pressure is applied to the same through engagement with the head of the user producing no perceptible resistance to the fiexing of the reed.

9. A vibrator for use in a bone conducting receiver having a contact member for engagement with the head of the user, said vibrator including an electro-magnet, an elongated reed adapted to be moved by said electro-magnet and arranged to flex in accordance with the force exerted by the electro-magnet, the span of said reed changing during flexing, restraining means for restraining longitudinal and lateral movement of the reed at one end thereof, restraining means for restraining lateral movement of said reed at its other end, said end of the reed being free to move longitudinally, said contact member being actuated by longitudinal movement of the movable end of the reed said contact member when pressure is applied to the same through engagement with the head of the user producing no perceptible resistance to the flexing of the reed.

10. A vibrator for use in a bone conducting re ceiver having a contact member formed with a contact surface for engagement with the head of the user, said vibrator including an electro-magnet, an elongated reed adapted to be moved by said electro-magnet and arranged to fiex in accordance with the force exerted by the electromagnet, the span of said reed changing during flexing, restraining means for restraining longitudinal and lateral movement of said reed at one end thereof, restraining means for restraining lateral movement of said reed at its other end, Said end of the reed being free to move longitudinally said contact member being attached to the movable end of said reed in a manner such that the direction of extent of said reed is substantially normal to said contact surface said contact member when pressure is applied to the same through engagement with the head of the user producing no perceptible resistance to the flexing of the reed;

11. A vibrator for use in a bone conducting receiver having a Contact member for engagement with the head of the user, said vibrator including two electro-magnets having coils adapted to be simultaneously energized by a signal transmitter, said electro-magnets being provided with juxtaposed oppositely facing poles, two coextensive spaced vibratory reeds movable in opposite direcs i tions and adapted to be moved by said poles, supporting means to which corresponding ends of said reeds are attached, said reeds being 'free to simultaneously move longitudinally at their other ends, said contact member being actuated by longitudinal movement of the movable ends of said reeds and movable in a longitudinal direction with .reference to said reeds.

l2. Avibrator for use in a bone conducting ren ceiver having a contact member for engagement with the head ol' the user, said vibrator including two electro-magnets having,r coils adapted to be simultaneously energized by a signal transmitter, said electro-magnets being provided with juxtaposed poles, `two coextensive' spaced vibratory reeds movable in different d' eetl-ons and adapted to be moved by said poles, supporting means to which corresponding ends or said reeds are attached, said reeds being free to simultaneously move longitudinally at their other ends, said contact member being actuated by longitudinal movement of the movable ends of said reeds and movu able in a longitudinal direction with reference to said reeds.

13. In a bone conducting receiver having a contact member formed with a contact surface for engagement 'with the head oi the user and movable in a direction normal to such surface, an armature, guide means -for guiding said armature for movement in a certain direction and in a direction normal to said contact surface and actuating means between said Contact member and said armature and transferring movement from armature member to said contact memberl in a manner such that the directions of movement of said armature and Contact member are substantially at right angles to one another, said contact member when pressure is applied te the same through engagement with the users head producing no perceptible resistance to the movement of said armature in said rst named direction.

lei In a bone conducting receiver having a contact member for engagement With the head of the user, a movable armature, an elongated reed attached to said armature arranged to flex to accommodate movement vof the armature, the span of the reed changing during iiexing, said contact member being actuated by changes in the span of the reed, said contact member when pressure is applied to the same through engagement with the head of the user producing no perceptible resistance to the movement of said armature.

l5. In a bone conductingreceiver having a contact member for engagement With the head of the user, a movable armature, an elongated reed attached te armature and arranged to flex to accommodate movement of the armature, the span of said reed changing during flexing, means for restraining longitudinal movement of the reed at the end thereof, the other end of the' reed being free to move longitudinally, said contact member being connected to the other end of said. reed and actuated by changes in the span of the reed, said Contact member when pressure is applied to the same engagement With the head of the user offering no perceptible resistance to the flexing of the reed.

16. In a bone conducting receiver having a contact member for engagement with the head of the user, amovable armature, an elongated reed attached to said armature and arranged to flex to accommodate movement of the armature, the

span of said reed changing during iiexing, means for 'restraining longitudinal and lateral movement of the reed at one end thereof, means for re`' straining lateral movement of said reed at its other end, said end of the reed being free to move longitudinally, said contact member being connected to the other end of said reed and actuated by the longitudinal movement of the other end of the reed, said contact member when pressure is applied to the same through engage; nient with the head of the user offering no perv ceptible resistance to the flexing of the reed.

17. In a bone conducting receiver having a contact member formed with a contact surface for engagement vvith the head of the user, said oonta-ct member being movable in a direction normal to said surface, a movable armature, a reed attached to said armature and arranged to flex to accommodate movement of the armature, the span of said reed changing during flexing, means for restraining longitudinal and lateral movement of said reed at one end, means for restraining lateral movement of said reed at its other end, said end ci' the reed being free to move longitudinally, said contact member being secured to the free end of said reed with its Contact surface substantially at right angles to said reed and movable with said reed in the direction of extent of said reed, said contact member when pressure is applied to the same through engagement with the head of the user oilering no perceptible resistance to the nexing of the reed.

18. In a bone conducting receiver having a contact member for engagement with the head of the user, a movable armature, an elongated reed attached to said armature and arranged to :dex to accommodate movement ci the armature, the span of said reed changing during flexing, means for restraining longitudinal and lateral movement of the reed at one end thereof, a leaf spring extending substantially at right angles to said reed and attached at one end to the free end of said reed, said spring restraining lateral movement of the free end of the reed in one direction, the free end of the reed being capable of movement longitudinally, said contact member being connected to the free end of the reed and actuated by the changes in span of the reed, said contact member when pressure is applied to the same through engagement with the head of the user offering no perceptible resistance to the flex# ing of the reed.

19. In a, bone conducting receiver having a contact member for engagement with the head of the user, tvvo electro magnets having coils adapted to be simultaneously energized and pro` vided with juxtaposed facing poles, two juxtaposed armatures one for each electromagnet, said armatures` being arranged to be attracted by said poles and simultaneously movable in opposite directions, two coextensive spaced vibratory reeds attached to said armatures, supporting means to which corresponding ends of the reeds are at# tached, said reeds being free to move longitudi-L nally at their other ends', said contact member being actuated by the movable ends of the reeds, said contact member when pressure is applied te the same through engagement with the head of the user offering no perceptible resistance to the ilexing f the reeds.

20. In a bone conducting receiver having a contact member for engagement with the head of the user, two electro magnets having coils adapted to besimultaneously energized and provided with juxtaposed facing poles, two juxtaposed armatures one for each electromagnet, said armatures being arranged to be attracted by said poles and simultaneously movable in diierent directions, two coextensive spaced vibratory reeds attached to said armatures, supporting means to which corresponding ends of the reeds are attached, said reeds being free to move longitudinally at their other ends, said contact member being actuated by the movable ends of the reeds, said contact member when pressure is applied to the same through engagement with the head of the user offering no perceptible resistance to the flexing of the reeds.

2l. In a bone conducting receiver having a contact member for engagement with the head of the user, a movable armature, an elongated reed attached to said armature and arranged to ex to accommodate movement of the armature, the span of the reed changing during flexing, supporting means to which one end of the reed is attached, said contact member being attached to the other end of said reed and actuated by longitudinal movement of the free end of the reed, said reed having suiiicient longitudinal rigidity to resist exing due to end pressure applied to the same by bringing the contact member into contact with the users head.

SCOTT N. REGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 312,365 Lowth Feb. 17, 1885 1,149,822 Hackett Aug. 10, 1915 1,248,158 Poloumordvinoff Nov. 27, 1917 1,436,264 Jonason Nov. 21, 1922 1,630,028 Reynolds May 24, 1927 1,674,539 Albertus June 19, 1928 1,731,905 Nemnich Oct. 15, 1929 1,784,517 Farrand Dec. 9, 1930 1,828,122 Barnhart Oct. 20, 1931 2,056,300 Shower Oct. 6, 1936 2,381,309 Powell Aug. 7, 1945 2,391,444 Burch Dec. 25, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date i 255,149 Great Britain July 15, 1926 

